Chennai: Rs 30,000 fine imposed on hair clinic

Chennai: The District Consumer Redressal Forum, Chennai (South), has directed a hair care clinic to pay a compensation of Rs 30,000 to a person who faced side effects after undergoing treatment for hair loss and grey hair. In the petition, S. Anand, Padi, submitted that he saw advertisements on television channels about dermatology and trichology treatment provided by a leading multi-specialty health clinic at its clinics in various places. He approached its T Nagar clinic on February 2, 2005, for arresting hair loss. After performing some tests on him, the clinic staff asked him to pay Rs 9,000 for treatment. He paid the amount and underwent treatment for three months and hoped to find a solution to hair loss and grey hair. Later, he was administered medicine to reduce his body heat.

After taking the medicine, he developed side effects including irritation on eyes, stomach problem and irregular bowel syndrome. Following this he stopped the medicine on January 22, 2006. He was unable to attend normal work and business activities. In the petition, he contended that act of the health clinic amounts to deficiency in service and caused him mental agony. He sought direction to the clinic to pay him compensation of Rs 1 lakh.

 Denying the allegation, the clinic replied that Anand was registered as a client on February 2, 2005. After carefully analysis his problem, staff diagnosed that he facing dandruff and premature grey hairs. His body was cold and affected by stress. He was also continuously using hair die. The clinic prescribed medicine. As per terms and condition, the payment was not refundable. Stating that it had not committed deficiency of service, the clinic sought the Forum to dismiss the petition. Holding the clinic for committing deficiency in service the bench comprising president, M. Mony, members K Amala and Dr T. Paul Rajasekaran directed the clinic to pay compensation of Rs 30,000.